[954rrmike]

Hi guys after having my torque converter changed yesterday I decided to check the transmission and transfer case fluid which was down about 3/8 below the hole. I was concerned if it should be to the bottom of the hole so after looking in the manual I got confused on what transfer case I have. After much research I have the BW44-44 on demand transfer case. The two manuals I have state all transfer cases take atf4 except NGV246 takes special fluid. No mention of the fluid for the BW44-44 so what does it take. I found a pdf owners manual online and it has a different page than the paper manual I have and it states special fluid for the BW44-44. I am now at a loss and pissed off. Pretty bad that dodge cant decide or tell us the proper fluids to use in our trucks. Mabey I should spend a hour looking at the stupid dvd they provided instead of a proper paper manual. Can some tech or expert please tell me what fluid to top it up with and if it even needs to be topped up, the drain and fill plugs were factory sealed and the fluid color in the transfer case is red. Thanks

 

[Stainless]

ATF+4 is whats in it, the 246 was an option in 2007-2010, for certain trucks, be glad you don't have this as the fluid is like 27 bucks a bottle.

 

[954rrmike]

It looks like Atf but i read that it is special fluid for the BW44, does someone consider ATF to be special fluid. Why can they put this in writing so we know what fluids to put in our vehicles. Stamp or put a tag on the transfer case.

 

[TransEngineer]

Mike, what's your VIN number (last 8 digits)? I will first double-check and confirm which transfer case you have, then check on the fluid spec for you.

We do frequently have more than one edition of an owner's manual. If we discover errors, we correct them and publish a new version (which should also be available online). So I suspect the info you found in the online manual is correct (Mopar® BW44-44 Transfer Case Fluid), but I will try to verify that for you. My apologies for the confusion!!

 

[954rrmike]

Thank you I will send you my vin when I get off work. I do definitely have the BW44-44 transfer case and the fluid in it is red. The fluid level is about 1/4 inch below the fill hole and I thought I would top it up. May not even be necessary and I never thought nobody would know what to put in it. I am a licensed technician and it looks like ATF.

 

[Stainless]

I didn't even know that, glad I haven't changed mine yet, I thought it was ATF.

 

[954rrmike]

Well it still may be ATF. I have posted on three ram fourms and been to the dealer and nobody seems to know what fluid it is. Also my two owner manuals are useless unless you have the transfer case that was discontinued in 2010. Good job Dodge. I still think it is ATF but we need to be certain. The fluid is red.

 

[954rrmike]

I also emailed customer service to explain my issues and have yet to receive a response. It's a good thing I really like the truck or I would be trading it in soon.

 

[Stainless]

I will find out tomorrow when I go to work.

 

[954rrmike]

That would be awesome, if it is special fluid can you get a part number for it? Thanks allot.

 

[954rrmike]

Hey Stainless did you have a chance to look into it?

 

[954rrmike]

Transengineer, my vin is BS546042. If you can help thanks allot.

 

[TransEngineer]

Mike, still checking on this. No word back from my t/case contact yet. I will let you know....

 

[954rrmike]

Thank you, I emailed Chrysler about this issue and received a PFO letter saying to go to my dealer. I am not impressed.

 

[TransEngineer]

Mike,

Your VIN shows that it has a sales code DH8 transfer case, which is indeed the BW44-44 model.

The fluid in that t/case is ATF, but it's not our usual ATF+4®. It uses a Dexron III ATF. So apparently the Mopar BW44-44 Transfer Case Fluid is Dexron III ATF. You should be able to find that at most any parts store.

 

[954rrmike]

Wow that's not what I was expecting to hear. It looks like dextron 111 as it is not as red as atf4. So this transfer case fluid should be cheap from Chrysler. Do you mind me asking how you found out it is regular trans fluid? I really appreciate your help with this. Thanks.

 

[954rrmike]

If the fluid is just dexron how is it justified to charge 16-23 dollars a quart for 3 dollar fluid. I wish it would say somewhere it takes ATF if that's what it needs. I'll take your word for it transengineer, but how hard was it for you to find this out and how is the customer able to know what to use in their vehicles.

 

[TransEngineer]

Mike, I asked one of our transfer case engineers about the fluid spec, and he sent me the spec for the factory fill fluid. According to the info he sent, it's Dexron III fluid.

 

[954rrmike]

Thank you. Merry Christmas.

 

[Rambunkshuss]

If the fluid is just dexron how is it justified to charge 16-23 dollars a quart for 3 dollar fluid. I wish it would say somewhere it takes ATF if that's what it needs. I'll take your word for it transengineer, but how hard was it for you to find this out and how is the customer able to know what to use in their vehicles.

Great to see you finally got to the bottom of this issue mike. It makes perfect sense using DexIII for this AUTO transfer case because it has a viscous clutchpak. The DEXIII is more abrasive than ATF-4 and thats why i think you would have to use it. DEXIII will keep the tranfer case clutch`s from chattering. One great thing about it, you can buy DEXIII very cheap at any auto parts supply place. ATF-4 is MUCH more expensive over DEXIII because of it being synthetic oil.
Just throwin this out there, think about this for a momment.... can you just imagine how many so called techs are going to change the oil in these type transfer caes`s and install ATF-4 in them...? Customers will be going back to their dealer with chatter issues they didnt have before having the fluid changed, and the goober tech will just stand ther and scratch his nuts wondering what to do next. I`ll tell ya what they`ll do, they`ll just order a brand new transfer case and install it. (under warranty...???) They arent smart enough to figure out that THEY were the reason the transfer case isnt working like it should because they put the wrong oil in it. Chrysler needs to step up to the plate and get this lube information printed in the owners manual(s) and then send out an emergency bulletin to all dealerships AND all truck owners that have this "AUTO 4x4" transfer case. If chrysler stands around with their thumb up their azz`s (as usual) and DONT warn everybody, then its their problem on their dime, it will cost them dearly for such a simple thing that could be easily avoided. This is one of many reasons why dodge always fails at never becoming number one in the big 3. Poor information, poorly trained dealerships & technicians.